September brought with it lots of parkrun celebrations with my lovely running club. On the 9th September we had a fab club meet up at Westmill parkrun for a 50th and a 200th parkrun. It was my 6th visit there but I’d not been since before the pause (not since September 2019), so the route was a bit different, still being two laps but starting at the top of the hill (and finishing there) rather than part way down the hill.
It’s a very hilly route, with steep downhills as well as steep uphills, but it is so pretty as you have views across the countryside from the top, and then at the bottom you run alongside lakes. Definitely a course to take in the views and not worry about the times.
Check out the gorgeous flags at the start! You can see the start and finish views in the photos too.
Once everyone had finished, we headed to the cafe, my first visit there. It was a super hot day and we were very thankful for the water being supplied to everyone. I didn’t have anything to eat as from what I could see there were not any vegan options, but I enjoyed a catch up with loads of our club before coming home. A little bit of geekery- if I visit Westmill one more time my P-Index will go up to 7 (as I have been to 6 events 6 or more times so it’s currently on 6, but as 6 of those I have also been to over 7 times, once I’ve been to Westmill 7 times I will have been to 7 different parkruns 7 times or more).
We didn’t have much time before the start for the photos as some people only arrived at 5 to- I really wanted the pink and green vests spread out evenly because it just looked wonky! Someone amazing in the OH ladies had even made them custom tops but as it was so hot they had to wear them around their waists instead.
Of course another customised top!
The following weekend we were at St Albans parkrun, for a club mates 150th! (And yes that and 200 is not an official milestone but who needs an excuse to celebrate?) At 28:23 it was my fastest of the year so far- I ran with Dad and we enjoyed chatting and then pushing on a bit on the third lap. We couldn’t stay for the Waffle House celebrations but we did have a lovely time with everyone- as it is three laps we passed (and were passed) by lots of OH ladies (and hangers on as the partners/ Dads/kids are known as). These celebrations are just so great and a reminder of what my running club is. Yes it’s a running club, but it’s more social and so supportive.
Are you in a running club? If so, do you enjoy celebrating achievements together?
